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tribalfootball's 'Could have been' players for A-League 2008/09

tribalfootball has pinpointed those players who promised to deliver in 2008/09 but could not quite live up to expectations.
Whether it was injuries, form, a new environment or off-field misdemeanours, these players were not at their usual level of performance or did not make any impact for their club throughout season 208/09 in the A-League.

He managed 13 matches in his debut A-League season but many were off the subs bench and when he signed for Newcastle Jets in 2008 it seemed his career would take off.

A disappointing season with the Jets where he could not get a regular first team for the competition's worst-performed team would have many critics wondering what happened.

At just 20 years of age, Patafta has the scope for natural improvement but his involvement in national U17 and U20 sides and the inclusion in the 'train on' squad at the 2006 World Cup have so far amounted to very little.

One of the biggest names in the league did not live up to expectations in season 2008/09.

The former Socceroos hero was unsighted in many of the matches he appeared in for the Sky Blues after a decent season with Central Coast Mariners in 2007/08 where he scored 7 times in 15 matches.

After becoming the highest paid footballer in the A-League, Aloisi failed by only managing to score twice in Sydney's poor season.

Possibly a victim of circumstances as he lobbed at the Harbour City in a year when things did not go as planned, Aloisi decided not to join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on a loan deal, instead remaining in Sydney to undertake pre-season with his teammates.

The Chinese midfielder came to the Phoenix after playing under Ricki Herbert at the New Zealand Knights with big wraps.

With plenty of tricks and speed, Gao could have taken the A-League by storm but instead managed mediocre performances and eventually had his contract terminated after several feuds with Phoenix officials.